PHOTOS, VIDEO: Orcas off West Seattle again!

| West Seattle news | Whales

(Added: Photo by Jim Borrow)

8:03 AM: Ready for some Sunday whale-watching? Just got a call that southbound orcas are visible off Alki Point. Let us know if you see them!

8:39 AM: Still SB – see comments.

(Added: Photo by Robin Sinner, first posted in comment section)

10:50 AM: Thanks for all the updates! And for the visuals (adding)!

Watch SRW orcas off our Alki Beach this morning, full moon and fine fishing! @OrcaSOS @orcanetwork @jeffrey_ventre @SyTheAuthor @SylviaEarle @westmarginpress @westseattleblog @LyndaVMapes @MacKidsBooks @Voice_OT_Orcas @WendellMinor @Orion_Magazine pic.twitter.com/jtTmkJkB6j

— Brenda Peterson (@BrendaSPeterson) February 9, 2020

ADDED 3:37 PM: Adding more visuals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jim Oxley (@jroxley12) on Feb 9, 2020 at 11:42am PST

(Thanks to Erin/Elton for sending the link to that video. Haven’t yet heard word of the orcas heading back northbound – please let us know if YOU have!)

ADDED 9:25 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for sharing some spectacular photos – here are three:

As she and others have noted, today’s visitors were transient orcas (Bigg’s Killer Whales), not the southern residents.

Fun February 9, 2020 (8:09 am)

We saw them right in front of Starbucks! 3-4. About 8 am. Beautiful.

BB February 9, 2020 (9:54 am)

There is a sailboat with its motor on illegally following the whales very close.
- AR February 9, 2020 (9:43 pm)
  
  I thought I would let you know that the sail boat was northbound, about a mile south of the whales that were southbound. The sailboat turned southbound and the whales continued southbound. The whales eventually caught up with the sailboat and came surprisingly close to the sailboat that was holding a steady course. Eventually they passed the sailboat. When they passed the sailboat the sailboat turned northbound.

Melinda February 9, 2020 (8:33 am)

Off Emma Schmitz 8:30

Susanna February 9, 2020 (8:42 am)

We’re parked at Beach and Jacobsen. What a show!!!

Lisa k February 9, 2020 (8:50 am)

Headed off mee kwa mooks to Linciln Park 8:49

Lk February 9, 2020 (8:57 am)

Actually are hanging out a bit south of Mee Kwa Mooks. Lots of tail slapping going on.

Richard Maloney February 9, 2020 (9:11 am)

Slowly working south towards Vashon, right down the center of the Sound. This is the best view we’ve had in our 36 years here.

C February 9, 2020 (9:28 am)

Off Lincoln park!

GINGER PEARSON February 9, 2020 (9:32 am)

Hey! Loman Beach and Lincoln Park are good places to view. They are at the tip of Vashon Island at 9:30 AM. 6 or 7, very active. Need binoculars, telescope or zoom lens to really see them. Pretty Amazing!

Rick R February 9, 2020 (9:43 am)

Off Brace point now heading south, 4 of them?
Being followed closely by a sailboat

Gary Jones February 9, 2020 (9:52 am)

Was out walking around Constellation Park a bit after 9 am and didn’t see orca but saw several harbor seals and perhaps one or two sea lions hanging around fairly close to shore. Might they have been in shallow waters avoiding Bigg’s orcas?

Brenda Peterson February 9, 2020 (10:09 am)

Closest I’ve seen them to West Seattle beaches in decades. Maybe the full moon fishing is fine. Here’s quick video near Mee Kwa Mooks park thanks to neighbor Hailey. Enlarge your screen to see a really tall dorsal fin! Don’t know if it’s J, K, or L pod. Video also on my FB page BrendaPetersonAuthor. So blessed by this Southern Resident family pod visit!

Brenda Peterson February 9, 2020 (10:12 am)

Holly bondurant February 9, 2020 (11:54 am)

Sighting off Maury island right now!

Janelle February 9, 2020 (11:57 am)

Any sightings since they were at the tip of Vashon? Which direction were they headed from there?

Robin Sinner February 9, 2020 (12:01 pm)

8:58 am spyhop seen from Emma Schmitz with Fauntleroy Vashon ferry in background

Kersti February 9, 2020 (1:48 pm)

These are transients not residents

Donna February 9, 2020 (1:51 pm)

Great day on The Whale Trail! Quick correction – these are not southern residents, they are Bigg’s (transient) pods, male T46 among them. Bigg’s orcas eat marine mammals, travel in smaller groups and have a wider range than residents. Good luck to everyone watching!

Kersti Muul February 9, 2020 (9:07 pm)

T46E

TM February 9, 2020 (2:36 pm)

Got a great view of two sets of them cruising S past 3 Tree at 11am. We were kayaking off the point, sunny and calm made for good viewing and hearing the spouts. Two groups, one more E that came down the middle, into bay in front of Normandy Park, then S off of shore. Other group closer to Maury, Tramp harbor and rounding the point.

Samuella Samaniego February 9, 2020 (3:17 pm)

Brenda Peterson, you rock! Thank you for posting your video on Twitter/WSB!!

lowmanbeachdrive February 9, 2020 (8:26 pm)

Deeply grateful to WSB for continuing to alert us of these sightings so we can get to nearest beach and enjoy them!!

WSB February 9, 2020 (9:22 pm)

And we wouldn’t be able to do that without the people who in turn let us know … so biggest thanks to them. Today’s first word came from a caller whose name we didn’t even catch … truly community-collaborative news, as we call it. Meantime … adding a few more photos courtesy of Kersti, who sent some stunners!